31. “Youre only wearing pants.”
CHAPTER 31
“You're only wearing pants.”
Melinda Mayweather
Happiness surges through my veins, threatening to burst from my chest. Hawke’s love for me, the way he cherishes every inch of me, loves me, is overwhelming. It happened so fast. Except I feel the same way about him with an intensity that takes my breath away.
Our bond… is indescribable. This connection transcends anything I’ve ever experienced. Even deeper than the one I share with Kellan and Siva.
Hawke is a part of me and I’m a part of him. Permanently.
I love the way he’s holding me. I love that we’re laying here and he’s still inside me. And he’s still mostly hard and I love the feeling of him there, like nothing bad could ever happen with him so close.
“Is it like this for all bonded mates? The way you’re present in my body?” I rub my chest between my breasts. “I can feel you and your mood. Can you feel me that way?”
"My parents don't speak about it a lot, but yes. I do think this is typical for bonded pairs. And yes, I can feel..." His voice trails off as he searches for the right words. "Everything about you. I–"
The bed jolts violently. I shriek and clamber toward Hawke, burying my face into the crook of his neck. He wraps his arms around me, and we ride out what I can only describe as an earthquake. I’ve been through a few when my mom and I lived on the west coast, but this was bigger than anything I’ve ever felt.
The quake lasts an eternity, though I know only a few seconds pass in reality.
"That was an earthquake." I swallow hard. “You said this wasn’t a planet.”
Hawke rolls us closer to the edge of the bed, his movements gentle and reassuring as he sits me on the edge and wraps a loose blanket around my shoulders. "Stay there." He meets my gaze and his brow furrows with concern. "Nothing like this has ever happened before, not in all the centuries I've been alive." He’s not scared, but he’s also not not nervous. I can feel it right in the center of my chest through our bond.
He gets up from the bed, completely naked, and admire the view as he walks across the room to the window. For a second, I'm just lost in the moment, drinking in the sight of him and feeling pretty freaking lucky to call him mine, all things considered.
The castle starts shaking again, and it's like a bucket of cold water dumped on my head. The walls rattle like someone having a seizure. Everything in the room is shuddering.
"Hawke!” I wrap the blankets around my shoulders like they’re some kind of safety net and I stumble towards him, trying to keep my balance as the floor moves underneath me.
Every time the castle shakes, I nearly face-plant. I'm starting to think that this whole magical realm thing isn't all it's cracked up to be. Hawke's worry and concern pulses through our bond, exacerbating my own fear.
He holds up a hand, his eyes widening. "Melinda, no. Stay there."
I pause, but the pull to be near him is too strong. I need his touch, his reassurance. "Please," I whisper, my voice barely audible over the rattling of the walls.
In an instant, he's by my side, tucking me close to his chest. His heart’s racing, his emotions a swirling mix of protectiveness and anxiety. "It's fine. It's?—"
"An earthquake?" I ask, my voice shaking. Something tells me it’s not an earthquake, a girl can hope, right?
"Avalon isn't a planet. It's a pocket universe. There's nothing that has the ability to cause an earthquake." His words are meant to be comforting, but they only make me more confused.
I don't know how to respond to that. What does that even mean? What I've seen of this place… it looks like a normal world. Obviously, there's a big difference. "Then w-what–" I start to ask, but another tremor cuts me off.
I cling to Hawke, my fingers digging into his skin. I try to steady myself. His arms tighten around me, and I can sense his determination to keep me safe, to figure out what's going on. But beneath that, I sense his own uncertainty, his own fear of the unknown.
As the shaking subsides, I pull back just enough to look up at him. "Hawke, what's happening?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
He meets my gaze, his eyes searching mine. "I don't know," he admits. His words hang heavy in the air, exposing his vulnerability. "But I promise you, Melinda, I won't let anything happen to you. We'll figure this out together."
A heavy knock on the door nearly makes me jump out of my skin. "Prince Stormblood. Domina . The other knights are saying something happened in your tower and everyone is being called for an emergency meeting. Something about Excalibur. "
A wave of relief washes over me when I recognize Kellan's voice. At least it's someone familiar and not some random castle person trying to barge in on us. But then it hits me–they absolutely know what Hawke and I were doing in here. My cheeks burn with embarrassment.
"Give us a moment to dress, Kellan," Hawke shouts back at the closed door, his voice tense.
"Elen and Lydia are here to help Domina dress," Kellan replies from the other side.
“You will allow me to cover my mate or there will be blood spilled,” Hawke snarls back at the closed door. He turns back to me, and I can see the confusion swirling in his eyes. But there's something else too, a flicker of fear snaking its way through our bond.
He quickly yanks on his pants from last night and strides across the room to the armoire. He pulls out a heavy night coat and carries it over to me, holding it out like a peace offering.
I drop the blanket, trying not to think about the fact that my clothes from yesterday are still scattered around the room. I step into the coat, slipping my arms into the sleeves. Hawke turns me to face him. He tucks the ends around my body and knots the sash tightly around my waist.
"What do you think happened?" My heart pounds wildly in my chest.
"I'm not sure."
He’s holding something back. I reach out and touch his arm, making him pause and meet my gaze. "You are sure."
He sighs, his shoulders sagging. "I—yes. I think Aena shook the castle."
Fear shreds my composure, making it hard to breathe. "The evil queen is in Camelot?" The thought of facing someone who makes even Hawke nervous is terrifying. If she's here, in the castle, what does that mean for us? For everyone?
"You need shoes," he says like the announcement about the evil queen means absolutely nothing. He pulls away, striding back to the armoire. He digs through the bottom and returns with a pair of ankle-high furry boots. Kneeling before me, he slides each boot onto my feet.
"Hawke. Explain. Please."
"I think when we bonded, we triggered something. I need to talk to the others, and I need to see the tower." His voice is steady, filled with a certainty that assured through our bond. It's comforting, and I take a deeper breath.
Before I can protest, he sweeps me into his arms, lifting me effortlessly off the ground. The strength in his arms, the way he holds me close to his chest, he treats me like something precious. I’m safe even in the middle of all this chaos.
"I can walk," I say, but it's a halfhearted protest at best.
"Absolutely not." He smirks down at me, a possessive glint in his eyes. "Just letting you out of bed is straining my control. And no one, not even Kellan is touching you right now. Understood?"
I swallow hard and nod, laying my head against his chest. I'm not about to argue, perfectly content to stay right where I am.
"Kellan, the door please," Hawke calls out.
The bedroom door swings open, and Hawke strolls out with me in his arms, as if it's the most natural thing in the world. Elen and Lydia stand behind Kellan, their knowing smiles making my cheeks burn again.
I bury my face against Hawke's bare chest, and that's when it hits me. "Bare chest . " My fingers trace the line of his collarbone. "You're only wearing pants."
Hawke Stormblood
I smirk down at Melinda, her cheeks flushing an adorable shade of pink. "Does it offend you, sweet girl?"
"No, I–of course not! It's just–" She stammers, her embarrassment pulsing through our bond. I catch a fleeting thought– I’m naked under this robe .
You're safe with me, love. I reassure her silently, marveling at the growing strength of our connection. I won't let anyone make you feel uncomfortable.
Her eyes widen and she clutches at my arm tighter. I can hear you. In my head. The same way I can hear Siva.
I tilt my head down at her. I wasn’t sure if it would happen. But it is typical of soulmate bonds.
“Magick is pretty cool when it’s not killing people,” she says, staring up at me.
“I agree,” I say, dipping my head to kiss her firmly on the lips.
I descend the spiral staircase of the tower holding Melinda tightly in my arms. The knights have gathered at the bottom and their eyes fix on us the moment I step off the landing. Ares' grin stretches wide across his face. "Always the troublemaker, Hawke. Can't leave you alone for a second."
Fen pushes forward, anticipation rolling off him in waves. "Did you bond? Do you have it back?"
He’s coming to fast. To close to my mate. A fierce growl tears from my throat, stopping Fen in his tracks. "Do not touch her."
Fen backs up, hands raised in surrender. "But your soul, Hawke?"
The completeness within me is undeniable. "Yes. I am restored." Relief surges through my bond with Melinda after I say those words. It really worked?
Yes, it did. I am whole.
"And the queen has awakened." Wraith's words echo forebodingly through the landing area.
"I think so," I confirm, my mind racing with the implications. "We need to get up to the Table. To the tower. My brothers, I need you to keep people away from Melinda. I can barely think coherently right now."
Ares chuckles, handing Boaz a small golden flask. "Let's figure this out and get you two lovebirds tucked back in your room." Boaz takes a sip and passes it to Wraith, who hands it to Fenrir. The flask makes it all the way back to Ares, who finally holds it out to me.
"I'm good," I say, shaking my head.
"Might take the edge off your mood," Ares suggests, a playful glint in his eyes. "Perhaps your mate would like a sip."
“Is it alcohol?” She asks.
I shake my head. “Ambrosia, but I don't need it anymore." I pull her closer, my arms tightening around her.
I turn to Kellan, urgency thrumming in my veins. "Kellan, would you take point? We're going to take the back door through the kitchens, see if we can get there before most people figure out what's going on."
The big man gives me a curt jerk of his head and we go out.
As we navigate the darkened courtyard, Melinda's unease grows, her heart racing against my chest. I hold her close, my senses stretching out into the shadows, ready for any threat. If word spreads about the queen's awakening before we can assess the situation, panic will consume the castle. We need to stay ahead of the rumors, to maintain control.
The kitchens are nearly silent when we enter, save for the crackling of low embers in the large fireplaces. A few hanging lanterns cast a soft glow, and we cross the room as quietly as possible. We emerge below a set of dark stairs. Melinda's soft voice breaks the silence. "Where are we going?"
"The Round Table is up this tower. And Queen Aena’s cell," I reply, keeping my voice low.
Confusion and fear radiate from her through our bond. "You just keep her in a tower? Like locked in a bedroom?"
"No, she's in a cell. Asleep."
"No one could kill her, Domina," Kellan explains, his tone hushed.
The pounding of steps above us sets my nerves on edge, and we quickly come face to face with four imposing Upir guards, their silver armor gleaming in the lamplight. They bow to Wraith, the largest speaking. "Knights... The sword is in the stone."
Ares grabs one of the soldiers by the front of his breastplate, his eyes boring into him. "Excalibur has returned? The whole sword?"
The guard bristles, but Ares doesn't relent, growling into the Upir's face. "The whole sword?"
The guard shakes his head. "Just one piece."
Another guard pushes Ares' hand off the first guard's shoulder. "We have to announce the news."
Kellan moves out of their way, and my brothers and I follow suit. Once the guards pass, we quicken our pace up the stairs, a renewed sense of urgency propelling us forward.
Melinda's nervousness is growing, but I hold her tightly while we climb.
We emerge into a large, circular room dominated by an enormous table crafted from a massive tree stump. Five chairs, seemingly grown from the tree's tendrils, surround the table, each bearing the name of one of my brothers.
Across the room, a large rock protrudes from the stone wall hiding the door to the queen’s cell, and a jagged piece of Excalibur is embedded in it.
Wraith approaches the sword, his fingers grazing the broken metal blade in disbelief. "They were right."
Melinda Mayweather
I’m not even looking at the sword. I’m staring at the woman pacing in a small room behind the translucent stone wall. Her eyes are dilated, fully black and angry. She’s shouting in a language I don’t understand, but her pain and anger strikes like the wrath of winds in a category five hurricane.
I tap Hawke’s chest. “Put me down.”
“No.” He squeezes me tighter.
“Hawke. The queen, s-she’s angry.” I point at the woman behind the wall, but he doesn’t look the way I’m pointing.
“She’s behind the wall. You’re safe,” he says, his voice tired. “At least the castle isn’t continuing to shake.”
I stiffen in Hawke's arms, my breath catching in my throat as I stare at the wall. “She’s so angry.”
Hawke starts to say something, but Boaz beats him to it. "Her cell is hidden behind the wall, Lady Melinda. How do you know she's angry?" He takes a small step toward us, his brow furrowed. "No one can see her."
Hawke, I can see her. She's pacing behind the wall, and she's furious. My words echo through our mental connection, tinged with disbelief. Am I crazy?
No, just very powerful. Not crazy.
Hawke counters, side-stepping his friend, not allowing him to approach. He looks down at me in his arms. “Tell me what you see, sweet girl.”
“She’s pacing and her eyes… they’re black. None of you can see her?”
All six men shake their heads.
A wave of panic crashes over me. Why me? Why am I the only one?
“Don’t tell a single soul you can see her, Domina . No one. Is that clear?” Kellan orders, his eyes on the stairwell. “Others are coming.”
“What’s going on?” I look up at Hawke, and his anxiety is clawing its way through his chest to tango with mine.
“I don’t know, but Kellan is right. Don’t say a word about seeing the queen, my sweet girl.” Hawke presses a kiss to my forehead and moves with the other knights and Kellan to the edge of the room closer to the sword and the queen. We’re facing the stairwell when people start pouring into the room.
“You got here fast, son,” Theon Stormblood walks through first. Isolde gives me a soft smile before taking her place at her husband’s side.
Here I am, wearing nothing but a robe and my hair crazy from our earlier activities. Heat rises in my cheeks. What all these people must be thinking of me… Hawke, maybe you should put me down. I whisper through our bond, my embarrassment getting the better of me. I don't want to cause a scene.
Hawke’s lips brushing against my ear. I'm not letting you down. Not now, not ever. And you’re not causing a scene.
I nod and try not to look uncomfortable. My eyes wander to the wall again… the queen… the sword.
Behind the Hawke’s father the other royals I met last night file in along with a bunch of other really important-looking men. The last one through the door is Julius Darkwood himself. The council. That’s who the other people must be.
His eyes lock with mine, and I swear I can see the hatred and disgust burning in their depths.
I press closer to Hawke, my heart pounding violently in my chest.
Hawke's arms tighten around me, and a low growl rumbles through his chest. He won't touch you, Melinda. I won't let him he says through our bond . There's a fierceness in his words, a promise that I know he'll keep no matter what, but Julius still scares me.
“What is the meaning of this,” Darkwood snarls. “Why have we been pulled from our beds for an earth–” His words stop when his eyes land on the piece of the sword sticking out of the rock next to Hawke.
There’s something about the sword. Something that makes me want to touch it, but I keep my hands to myself and tucked against Hawke’s bare chest. So many people are arguing and yelling. Yelling about the earthquake. About the sword. About the queen no one can see but me. My magick stirs and I push hard. Siva help. I’m here Domina.
“This is your son’s fault, Theon,” Julius shouts.
“Just because he chose not to marry your daughter, doesn’t make this incident his fault,” Theon yells back.
“Why is the sword coming back?” A big Drakonii man touches the piece casually and gives it a gentle tug, as if he’s expecting it to just pop right out of the rock. “Why right now? Tonight? Something had to have triggered it.”
He looks straight at Hawke and I but doesn’t speak.
I look away, trying not to look back at the queen and the sword, and bury my face in Hawke’s chest. They know it was us. They know.
I know, sweet girl.
Kellan steps forward, blocking everyone’s view of me in Hawke’s arms.
Stay calm, Domina . You’re safe. Siva’s voice calms a little of the brewing panic in my chest. My magick is stirring again. I look at the sword again. At her.
And this time when I look at her she’s looking at me.
Holy shit. She can see me.
I tap Hawke’s arm, asking him to let me down. His response is to hold me tighter. It’s not going to work though, I need to get down.
I glance at the queen again and my stomach drops. Her face isn’t dark any more. Her eyes are iridescent. Both her hands are flat on the door and they’re glowing white. The need to touch that wall is overwhelming. She needs me. I don’t know how I know, but I know she does. And I should be terrified, but I’m not.
“Hawke, put me down. Please.” My magick swells and I push down hard. No. No. No. I don’t want to hurt anyone. Siva pushes too, but the magick keeps pushing like something is pulling it out of me.
Kellan turns to face me and Hawke. “ Domina , breathe.”
“I c-can’t make it stop.” Hawke’s arms are trembling. The other knights are breathing hard, trying not to let it show, but I know I’m hurting them. Everyone is going to know soon that I’m dangerous. Everything that happened on Earth will happen here too.
All I do is cause pain to the people I care about.
One of Hawke’s arms falters and I slip halfway out of his arms. My feet touch the ground and I balance myself with a hand on the rock next to us. The rock holding Excalibur.
Hawke reaches to pick me back up but stops when the light fills the room and the whole of Excalibur lights up in front of us–at least a glowing outline of the whole sword along with the scars where the sword was originally broken. It’s so beautiful…
My magick sears through me like a hot poker and the outline of the queen’s cell door etches into the wall, glowing like it’s burning from the inside of the stone.
Silence descends on the entire room, then every single gaze settles on me.
Fuck.
"She's letting Aena out! Stop her!"
The words punch me in the gut, and panic claws at my throat. I yank on my hand, desperate to break free, but it's like I'm cemented to the rock. Shit. Shit. Shit. Hawke, I can't. My hand is stuck. Fear spreads like ice in my veins.
Let me try. Hawke's voice stays calm, but tension thrums through our bond. He tugs gently on my hand, his fingers warm and strong against my skin, but it's useless. It’s like my flesh has melted into the stone, and every pull sends searing pain shooting up my arm.
My magic pours out in a steady stream straight into the rock. It's a strange sensation, like my veins are emptying, my power draining away. The only silver lining is that it's not hurting anyone in the room, but that's little comfort when the lines of the door on the wall grow clearer with each passing second.
The room erupts in a kaleidoscope of colors, magic swirling and crashing like waves in a stormy sea. Heat presses against my skin like a physical weight, and sweat beads on my brow, trickling down my spine.
Hawke drops to his knees beside me, his head bowed, and the other knights quickly follow suit, their faces etched with a mixture of fear and pain. Half the room hits the floor, and I can’t do anything but stand here, my hand fused to this damn rock, like the biggest idiot in the universe.
Desperation claws at my mind, hopelessness surging through my veins like a bitter poison. I can't control this. I can't stop it. Siva, help.
"Kill her!" A male voice shouts, the words cutting through the chaos like a blade.
No. I don't want to die. Please. I don't want to die. The plea echoes in my mind. My heart pounds in my chest, so hard its all the way up in my throat, and all the way down in my fingertips.
Suddenly, Kellan's hand grasps mine, his grip strong and sure. The link between us surges, a crackle of bone deep energy. With a powerful yank, he pulls me free of the rock, and the sudden absence of the drain on my magic leaves me reeling. I stumble, my knees buckling, and it's only Kellan's arm around my waist that keeps me from crumpling to the ground.
My magick, no longer being siphoned away by the rock, flares out in a burst of raw, unchecked power. It whips around me like a whirlwind, stirring up dust and debris, sending tapestries fluttering and candles sputtering. It pulses beneath my skin, a wild, untamed thing.
Kellan's guardians burst forth, their ethereal wings unfurling in a blaze of light. They form a shield around us, holding my magick in and keeping the magick being hurled at me from the crowd out. But I can still feel the impact of each spell, each curse, as they slam against Kellan’s shield, making it shudder and flicker.
They are trying to kill me... The realization hits me like a sucker-punch, and I can taste bile at the back of my throat. It’s happening again. They’ll burn me like my mother. I cling to Kellan, my fingers digging into his arms, my whole body trembling with a mixture of fear and exhaustion. I don’t want to die.
As the assault continues, the glowing outline of Excalibur fades away, the glowing lines dimming until they're gone. The fire on the wall also sputters and dies out, leaving behind a scorched black outline of the queen's cell door.
"Death to the traitor!" The cry goes up from the crowd, sending a fresh wave of terror coursing through me.
You’re safe, Domina. Kellan won’t let them through.
The assurance helps, but I need my mate. Hawke. Where’s Hawke!? I need Hawke. I reach out through our bond, desperately seeking his presence, his strength.
“Mine!” A terrifying roar cuts through the room and a glistening translucent bubble grows from the floor to the ceiling cutting off the crowd from me. Hawke’s arms circle my waist, pulling me tight to his body. “Mine.” He buries his face in my neck, licking across the mark he gave me only hours before. My body shudders and calms immediately, submitting to his claim in all things, magick included.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I just touched the rock. And the queen, she’s still looking at me. Her eyes are white and scary. Her hands are on the wall.” The words pour from me like a spilled pitcher of milk. “Did you make the bubble? I missed you. I needed you and you came.”
“The bubble? The shield, yes.”
Shield. Okay, that makes more sense.
“I’ll always come for you, my sweet girl,” Hawke says, wiping away the tears on my cheeks. “Always.”
I rub my cheek into his hand.
Kellan’s giant ethereal green dragon wings are out spread along the inside the shield. His tattoos are thrashing, like the rest of them are just waiting to be called up. Siva is also writhing on my arm. They’re doing everything they can to help keep my power in check. Each individual connection is pulling me back in tandem. It’s enough. For now.
“We need to get her out of this castle. Right now,” Kellan growls. “I can push them to the side and hold them to give you a good head start, but you five need to take her and run. Get to Vandimoor and I will meet you there.”
“What the fuck do we even do?” Ares waves a hand at the fighting and screaming people on the other side of the shield. It’s quiet inside the shield. The chaos on the outside is muted for us. He rolls his neck and smashes a fist into his palm with a scary smack . “I’m down for smashing a few heads if necessary.”
No fighting. No. I’m barely holding it together right now.
I’ve got you, love. You’re not in this alone. Hawke’s thoughts whisper through my head reassuringly.
Kellan shakes his head. “Control yourself, Olympian. You can’t kill the royalty of all eight worlds and the high council members.”
“Fine,” Ares grumbles.
Fenrir doubles over and one moment he’s a man in pain and the next second his armor and clothes shred, leaving behind an enormous black wolf with teeth as long as my fingers and his back level with my shoulders.
Holy shit! He wasn’t kidding about being a wolf.
“We get her to Vandimoor like Kellan just said,” Hawke said, his voice sharp. “We have an army in the city to protect her. The only other people with soldiers on Avalon right now–”
“Sahsa and Jarlath won’t try to take your mate, Hawke. I give you my word,” Wraith says, rubbing his hands through his hair. “But fuck. This is bad.” He glares at the angry seething crowd on the other side of the shield. “Ares drink more of your ambrosia, your aura is making this worse.”
“Fuck you, dream-vampire.” Ares turns to Kellan. “Dragon, get us the hell out of here. Now,” Ares’ voice deepens and I shrink into Hawke’s chest.
“It’s all my fault,” I say, a soft whimper escaping my chest. “I’m so sorry.”
“Not your fault, little one,” Boaz says, stepping forward and putting a hand on Fen’s furry shoulder. The wolf snarls and looks back at the knight, but doesn’t eat Boaz’s face like I’m expecting. “Ares, I’ll take some of that ambrosia after you’ve had some.”
Ares takes a gulp from his flask and hands it to Boaz.
“Hawke, drop your shield to cover just you and Domina and I’ll let more of my guardians out. They’ll block the way long enough for you to get out of Camelot.”
My heart pounds against my ribs, and sweat slicks my palms. I glance frantically between Hawke and the chaotic crowd on the other side of the shimmering shield.
“You ready, love?” Hawke whispers into my ear.
His warm breath sends a shiver down my spine, contrasting sharply with the dread pooling in my stomach. My throat constricts, making it hard to breathe. I want to match Hawke's bravery, but terror claws at my insides. “No,” I finally say.
Hawke's arm tightens around me. “I’ve got you. You trust me?” His eyes lock onto mine, fierce and determined.
I swallow hard and nod. “Yes.” The word comes out a hoarse whisper.
He grips my hand, his calloused palm rough against mine. “We’re going to run. Do not let go of me. Not for anything.”
My heart’s in my throat. I want to puke, but I’m ready to run. Whatever he needs me to do. I’ll do it.